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Month: November 2014

So following my last blog looking at my ambition for an N Gauge model railway, I actually found myself some spare time and started the project that weekend.

As I mentioned, I have now decided on my track plan and amongst all of the model stuff that I have collected so far I have a couple of Metcalfe cardboard model kits.

Over the weekend and a couple of nights this week I have taken my time and actually built my first kit, a low relief section of houses and shops.

I have to say I’m very happy and proud of how they have turned out. The instructions with the kits are very good and as long as you take your time and do it all at your own pace I’m sure anyone can do them.

I still have a couple of little tidy up jobs to do on the models but I’m sure I’ll get it all done at some stage.

Having now completed my first kit, I am now keen to move onto my next one as I start to build up some of the town scene ideas that I have floating round in my head.

I’m sure you’ll agree that the kits themselves look fantastic once they are complete!

Time for something completely different now as I look at one of my little projects that I hope to get underway shortly.

Coming from a railway family the world of model railways has always been something that I’ve really wanted to get my teeth into.

Watching several excellent YouTube videos from the like of Everard Junction and Glebe Road Junction just fuelled my thinking even more with some fantastic tips and ‘how to’ videos.

My problem though has always been the lack of space to actually put up a layout so naturally starting on in OO gauge is not possible.

When I was a child though my Dad bought me an N Gauge set from the model shop at Steamtown, Southport. It was a minitrix Duchess set with 2 mk1 coaches, but me being an LNER fan I asked to swap the Duchess for a model of ther greatest loco of them all A4 Mallard. Luckily they agreed the swap and I still have the loco now, although it is in need for some TLC.

Despite this model though and years of thinking about a layout with my Dad, we never actually got round to building anything, despite having several running sessions.

Over the last few years though I have really started to rediscover some of the things that I once forgot about and one of these was model railways.

I decided to make an effort and actually purchase a few trains, coaches, track and some metcalfe building kits.

I started with just the standard Peco Starter Set Track pack but then after looking through the Set Track Plan book decided to go with the layout plan you can see above and ordered all the track from Hatton’s website.

Having been brought up around the BR Blue era I decided that most of the coaches and loco’s would be from this era but at the same time I wouldn’t just stick to the one era, after all I do love Steam Locomotives and some of the recent releases from both Dapol and Graham Farish are superb.

So what’s next? Well I guess it’s time to get a baseboard built and then put some track down and start to get on with the show.

The big debate I was having was whether to go DCC or not but for my first layout back I think I’ll just stay as things are, maybe go for the DCC once I know what I’m doing.

I have decided though that this one will just be a small layout and having watch ‘Simon’s Shed’ on YouTube, you can see that just starting small can then lead into bigger things once you have confidence.

I look forward to bringing you updates of my layout once things start to progress further.

In a world where gluten free, sugar free, tasteless snacks have become a thing. Where you have a DIY project every single day. Where play dates are scheduled 2 months in advance and each activity has to be planned and approved, here I am. Not giving a damn.